A Swindon man found in possession of a double-edged machete two weeks after being convicted of carrying an offensive weapon has been remanded in custody.
20-year-old Trishton Whyte, of Ruskin Avenue, appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning after being arrested during a vehicle stop in Swindon last night.
The court heard how police officers had spotted a car with a defective brake light in Great Western Way at around 10.45pm yesterday, sparking them to pull the vehicle over in Headlands Grove a short time later.
Officers noticed the smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle – containing two occupants. Subsequently, a Misuse of Drugs Act search was carried out.
When the defendant, who was a passenger in the car, was asked whether he had anything on him he shouldn’t have, he confessed to having a knife concealed on his person. A large double-edged machete was found against his leg, beneath his jogging bottoms.
It’s claimed Whyte told officers he had the knife “for my own protection”.
After providing a no comment interview to police in custody, he admitted the offence to magistrates.
The court heard that Whyte was on bail ahead of sentencing for affray and possession of a garden hoe which he used to damage a door during a fight.
Whyte also admitted possession of cannabis weighing around 15 grams. Police found the drugs after detaining him on 31 August last year. He’d ran away from a play park when police arrived following reports of a man with a machete.
Remanding him in custody to appear before the court on 1 April, the bench said there were “substantial grounds” to believe the defendant would commit more crime if bailed again. An all options pre-sentencing report was ordered.
